Automobile jack



W. H. APPLEMAN.

AUTOMOBILE JACK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. 1919.

Patented Oct. 31, 1922.v

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W. H. APPLEMAN.

AUTOMOBILE JACK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. 1919.

1,433,367, Patented 0ct.31,1922.

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Patented (let. 31, 1922.

UNITE stares WILLIAM H. APPLEMAN, OF BELMONT, NEW YORK.

AUTOMOBILE JACK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I lVILLmM H. APPLE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Belmont, in the county of Alle- 5 gany and State of New Yorln have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automobile Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to the means for raising and supporting the axle of the vehicle in any desired position with-. out relying upon the usual forms of latching devices now in use for a like purpose.

The object of my invention is to provide a plunger actuating device for jacks, steering gears, and similar devices which isnot only more durable but also easier and far more convenient and reliable as well as easier of application and operation than devices now in use for a like purpose.

I attain the foregoing objects in the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Fig. l is aright hand side elevation view,

partly in section with portions removed in order to reveal the relation of interior parts.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation view, chiefly in transverse section, said section line being distorted but running near enough a.

central line to reveal the relative positions of all internal as well as external members. Fig. 3 is a left side elevation view of my device assembled ready for use, less the operating handle but including the ratchet lever.

Fig. 4 is an stub portion of the ratchet lever shown in Figure 3 and in which its blade portion and handle socket are more clearly disclosed.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal plan view of a plain type handle adapted to use with the ratchet lever illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 in case of emergency.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modification of the ratchet lever as illustrated in Figure 3 in connection with a suitable telescopic handle adapted to be used with it, as well as with the levers shown in Figures 3, 6 and 8.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the internal member of the telescopic handle disclosed in Figure 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view,

partly in Se tion edgewise view of the naked Application filed December 18, 1919. Serial No. 346,180.

otthe lever and telescopic handle disclosed in Figure 6 taken fromits opposite side and with the dog and latching devices omitted.

Fig. 9 is a right hand side view of a modification of my device.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of said modification partly in section, taken on a distorted line but near enough a vertical center to reveal the relation of all internal as well as external members.

Fig. 11 is a left hand side elevation of said modification, partly in section with portions removed in order to more clearly reveal the construction and relation of the various members.

Fig. 12 is a transverse view in section of member 22 of Figure 11.

The lever and handle shown in Figures 6 and 7 are interchangeable with the lever and handle throughout the several differentfigures.

In housing or casing 1 is provided for enclosing and maintaining alignment of the working members. It consists of a relatively small tubular chamber. supported in a vertical position by a foot or pedestal and having intermediate of its ends a relatively large transverse chamber. preferably circular in form, a portion at least of the circular walls of said transverse chamber being machined or otherwise made'suitable to serve as a circular journal bearing. Preferably one of the side walls of said housing or casing is integral with the remainder of the casing, is faced off internally and is provided with a liberal center opening. A portion at least of the tubular chamber is internally machinedor finished in a manner to serve as a suitable guide way for a plunger hereinafter referred to. A. shaft 2 embodying a pinion 3, is so. machined. as to bring the pitch line of said pinion well inside of the normal diameter of said shaft. On each side of said pinion said shaft is finished to guag'e, and the longer end is threaded. from the pinion to the outer end, at which point it is provided with a nut at. A disc 5 peripherally machined to lit the journal bearing in casing 1. is faced on each side, is bored to fit and is riveted to or otherwise rigidly secured to the short extension of said shaft 2, with its inner wall resting lat- Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, a suitable orally against pinion while a similar disc, 6 is bored and threaded to lit the threaded extension of said shaft and is screwed up tightly against the opposite side 01 pinion 3 from disc 5 A short loose sleeve 7 is placed upon shaft 2 directly against disc 6, and shaft 2 along with the discs and sleeve thus assembled are inserted within, and are rotatable upon the journal hearing of the transverse chamber. In making this as sembly the threaded end of shaft 2 as well as a portion of sleeve 7 is caused to protrude through the circular opening in the side wall of housin 1 and extends outward from said wall. A disc type atchet wheel 8 faced on its sides and bored and threaded to fit shaft 2. is placed thereon and screwed up tightly against sleeve 7 which will now be "found to serve as a spacer, and to have provided asuitable space for the insertion of the blade portion 7 a stub ratchet lever 9. Said lever having its blade portion bored to lit pivotally on sleeve 7 and being tree to swing freely between housing 1 and ratchet wheel 8. Ratchet wheel 8 is further secured by the application of nut l. Lever 9 is provided with socket extension 1.0 for the reception of handle 11 which is threaded at its inner en d and is adapted toenter and engage with a threaded opening in the inner end wall of said. socket. Near the middle of lever 9 is located. a double acting dog or latch 12 which is pivotally secured thereto by pin 13, said latch being free to rock in either direction, thereby permitting of either end of said dog or latch leing brought into engagement with ratchet wheel 8. Near the extreme outer end otli latch 12 is inserted pin 14: hereinafter referred to. The outer end of lever is fitted with a latch trigger 15, which is pivotally secured hy pin 16. The extreme outer end 0t trigger 15 is fan shapedand is provided with small cogs which face inward and is als provided with a lug or car tor use in 1uanipu lating it by hand when used in connection with handle 11, Figure 5 and near said ear is inserted a pin 17. To pin 17 and to pin 14: of latch 12 is secured a coil spring 16 having suiiicient tension to cause latch 12 to align itself with pin 17 whensaid trigger is thrown in either direction said trigger being limited in its throw by a notch. like chamber which contacts with a small stop pin 19 and which is inserted in lever 9 just bet-ween latch 12 and trigger 15. A plunger 26 is inserted in the tubular chan'iber oi? housing 1 and provided with rack or toothed. section which engages with pinion 3. The upper end of plunger 20 is provided with a cap like abutment 21 which is adapted to cng t e with the axles or other convenient portions: of the vehicle, and incidental to safeguarding the meshing of plunger 20 with pinion 3, when the former nears its maxi mum upper movement, a guide pin 22 is insorted in the circular wall of the transverse chamber at a point directly opposite pinion 3, and is brought into avtree sliding contact with plunger 20. On the opposite side of plunger 20 from said pinion and in order to limit the upward movement of plunger 26. short stop pin or screw 23 is inserted in and near the upper end of the tubular chamber and protrudes within a shallow longitudinal slot of limited l ngth which has been cut in said plunger.

In the modified term oi ratchet lever and handle, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 lever stub 9 of itself is a substantial duplicate of lever .9 in Figure 3 when ready for use. It is a so fitted with latch 12 secured by pivotal pin 1.3 and also carries pin 14:. Instead of trig 15 however it s fitted "with trigger 15 secured by pin 16 and carries pin 17 which however is attached to the inner end of said trigger, while the extreme outer end thereof. is a so provided with a circular, toothed area. facing inward. spring 18" is attached to pin 14; of the latch and also to pin 17 of the trigger which causes latch 12 to change its alignment to correspond with the manipulation vof trigger 15 the latters movement being limited by its contact with stop pins 24 and'25. A telescopic handle is devised by adopting a piece of suitable tubing 26, the inner end being insertable in socket 10 and pri'ivided with a threaded portion which enters and engages the threaded opening at the inner end of said socket. Adjacent to socket 10, tube 26 is fitted with a freely sliding sleeve 27 the inner end of which is fashioned into a toothed gear. Said sleeve contains a slotted opening 28. A pin or screw 29 passes through said slotted opening and is secured to tube 26, thereby affording said sleeve a limited lateral movement but otherwise fixing its relation to said tube,

The final diameter of the outer end of tubes 26 is slightly reduced by cutting a horizontal slot into it several inches in length, after which a sleeve 30, having a slight internal taper is driven into it. thus compressing it until the slot is practically closed at the outer end. A second tube 31. a trifle shorter than tube 26 and bar an external diameter that fills and slidingly fits the extreme contracted end of tube 26, is upset at its inner end and dressed to a full but sliding fit in the unreduced portion of tube 26, thus permitting it after insertion to be drawn partly out in tube 26 or until its enlarged portion arrests it by reason of its entering and wedging in the reduced portion oi? tube 26 and whereby a double length handle of a rigid. powerful and most convenient form. is produced, and whereby the entire double handle may be turned to either the right or left, for the purpose of manipulating triggers 15 and 15 without having to reach down or under protruding portions it of the vehicle. The outer end of tube 31 is fitted with a button or knob 32 whichlimits its inner position in tube 26, thereby maintaining it within easy reach when necessary to withdraw and use it. as well as for providing means for withdrawing it. The open side of the transverse chamber in housing 1 is finally closed by means of a thin metal plate 33, which is secured bybolts or screw 34. i

Referring now more specifically to the modifications presented in Figures 9, 10, 11. and 12, they deal almost exclusively with slight changes in the method of supporting discs 5 and 6 inconnection with shaft 2 and pinion 3. In so doing, housing 1" has a slightly deeper transverse chamber than housing 1. The addition being-confined to an area chiefly underneath said disc, pinion and shaft. Within said transverse chamber a rocking saddle shaped member 1 is in serted and is pivotally supportedby a pin or bolt 1, said saddle contacts with disks 5 and 61901 a limited space almost directly underneath pinion 3 and also for a limited space directly opposite said pinions at a right angle from its center considered horizontally, and between said contact spaces or areas it is provided with aclea-rance chamher. The lower end of said saddle is forked for a short distance in order to permit plunger 20 to intrude and move up and down between said forked portions. Pin or bolt 1 is located slightly to the right of the center of pinion 3 and discs 5 and 6 when considered vertically. On the opposite side of plunger 20 from pinion 3, a guide or bearing block 22 takes the place of the pin 22 disclosed "n Figure 1, block 22 is secured to housing 1 by a bolt 22. Block 22 extends between discs 5 and 6 from housing 1 until it touches lightly or affords a sliding contact for plunger 20, while that portion of said block which rests against the housing 1 is provided with thin abutment like extensions, Which lie directly between housing 1 and the rims of discs 5 and 6, and provides a journal like contact or bearing for said disc over a limited area. It will nowbe observed that when resistance is offered to the upward movement of plunger 20, the downward force extending through pinion 3 and discs 5 and 6 is finally delivered uponthe lower point of saddle l and entirely to one side of pivotal pin 1 and that thereby the upper point of saddle 1 is caused to exert a portion of discs 5 and 6, which in turn forces them against guide'and bearing block 22 and which by its gripping action absolutely prevents the pinion and discs from rotating backwardby action of resistance or load. Furthermore by reason of the slight change in the housing and the introduction of saddle 1 and bearing block 22*, internal masaid force horizontally against chining of the housing can be dispensed with and at the same time plunger 20, and all rotative parts as well as operating levers are interchangeable and usuable with housings disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 3 as well as housings 7, 10 and 11.

In operation the device as shown in Figures 1 to 8 isexceedingly simple and effec tive. The pitch diameter of the pinion is slightly less than the diameter of the discs, thus bringing the resistance of the load as applied to it by the plunger relatively near the center of the pinion and'discs. The entire load upon the pinion is transferred directly to the discs which in turn contact entirely at their periphery upon the journal bearings afforded within the transverse chamber of the housing, and therefore at a point quite distant from the center of the pinion and whereby the frictional resistance at the rim of the discs is approximately ample to prevent the pinion and discs from rotating backwards by reason of the load, thus causing the load, the plunger, the pinion and the discs toremain at rest in any position in which they are left without the aid of the operating lever or any other form of latching device. 4

As a safeguard however, and in order to slightly increase said frictional resistance in Figures 1 to 3, a clearance chamber of moderate length is provided in the journal portion of the housing directly underneatl'i pinion 3 and whereby, or impinging action is caused to take effect between discs 5 and 6 and the journaled walls ofthehousing, thus rendering the device positively proof against danger of self reversing under load pressure or resistance, even under perfectlubrication. Assuming; however, that the device, is being operated with lever 9 and handle 11 which. calls for hand manipulation of trigger 15, it will be observed that by pushing the outward end of said trigger downward,'the lower jaw of dog or latch 12 will be caused to engage with ratchet wheel 8. The lever and handle will now be free to rise without resistance, but will engage on its downward stroke, thus turning the sprocket wheel, discs'and pinion in a corresponding direction which in turn will force the plunger and load upward. By reversing trigger 15'and latch 12 the upper jaws of said latch will engage and the movements of the load and all rotatable parts will be reversed, and in doing so the load itself will furnish at least 90% of the force necessary to establish said reverse movement. If the device he fitted with lever and telescopic handle disclosed in Figures 6 and 7 handle 26 is first inserted in socket 10 and screwed into the thread at the bottom of the socket part way or say 2 or 3 revolutions, sleeve 27 isthen slid forward until it meshes with the teeth on trigger 15 Inner tube 31 of the telescopic handle is. now drawn out to its limit, and the device can now not only he slid under the vehicle and be placed in proper position, but trigger 15* can be manipulated by turning the entire handle to the right or left, and an exceptionally heavy load be raised withperfect ease, and while the operator remains in a standing or comfortable stooping position.

The chief advantages in my device are substantially as follows: Cheapness of construction in proportion to merit. Simplicity and ease of application and operation. Self locking under load without. the aid of latches. Ease with which the load can be raised and let down. Effectiveness even with a lever travelof but 10 degrees. Absolute safety, coupled with the fact that the operator can stand almost erect in applying and using my device. There are a number of minor details of construction in my device which can be readily changed without departing from the spirit of invention, and I do not wish to be held strictly to such details.

It is also quite evident that other means for rotating the discs and pinion are applicable. In fact I have already a design in which the housing is widened out, and disc 5 has a bevel gear formed thereon, and which is operated by a bevel pinion in the same manner as that employed in my application No. 285,075 of March 25th, 1919 for improvements in steering gears, thereby rendering the chief element'of my invention admirably adapted to steering gears as well as pinion driven lifting devices.

It is also evident that while my drawing discloses an annular bearing for discs 5 and 6 still a complete or continuous circular bearing is not a necessity when used in a lifting device, since all of the pressure upon said discs is then downward, and it is then only necessary that the bearing is of such extent as to support and maintain the discs journal fashion in their proper positions.

hat I claim is:

1. In a plunger actuating device, the combination of a housing having a longitudinal chamber and a relatively large transverse chamber therein, a journal type bearing formed in said transverse chamber, a rotatable disc peripherally journaled upon the bearing in said transverse chamber, a pinion of less than one-half the diameter of said disc centrally secured to and rotating' with said disc, a plunger inserted in said tubular chamber and having a toothed area which engages with said pinion and means for rotating the disc and pinion.

2. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal tubular chamber and a relatively large transverse chamber, a journal bearing formed in saidtransverse chamber, a disc journaled upon the bearing in said transverse chamber, a plunger inserted in said tubular chamber, having a toothed area thereon, a pinion secured to and rotatable with said disc, and engaging with the toothed area of said plunger, the diameter of said pinion in relation to the diameter of said disc being reduced to a point whereby when force or resistance is applied to said plunger and pinion, it will fail to exert suflicient rotative force to the disc to force it backward by overcoming the frictional resistance at the latte-rs periphery, and means for rotating the disc and pinion.

3. The combination of afixed. annular bearing, a rotatable disc peripherally journaled against the walls of said annular bearing, a pinion of less than one-half of thediameter of said disc attached. to and rotating with said disc, a plunger having a toothed area thereon which engages with said pinion, a guide for retaining the plunger and pinion in mesh and means for rotating the disc and pinion.

4. The combination of a fixed annular bearing, a pair of rotatable discs peripherally journaled against the walls of said.

annular bearing, a pinion of less than one,- half of the diameter of said discs located between, attached to and rotating with said discs, a plunger inserted between said discs having a toothed area which engages with said pinion. and means for rotating said discs and pinion.

5. The combination. of a fixed journal bearing, a rotatable disc peripherally journaled upon said bearing,a pinion secured to and rotating with said disc, a plunger having a toothed area which engages with said pinion, a guide for said plunger, a clearance chamber between said disc and a portion of said journal bearing, and located substantially in line with the thrust upon said pinion and disc when they are resisted by the plunger and whereby the backward rotative tendency of the pinion and disc is minimized and means for rotating said pinion and disc.

6. The combination of a fixedjournal bearing, a pair of rotatable discs peripherally journaled upon said bearing, a pinion secured between and rotating with said discs, a plunger having a toothed area which engages with said pinion, a guide for said plunger, a clearance chamber between said discs and a portion of said journal bearing, and located substantially in line with the thrust upon said pinion and discs when they are resisted by the plunger, and whereby the backward rotative tendency of said pinion and discs is minimized and means for rotating said pinion and discs.

7. In a plunger actuating device a housing having a longitudinal chamber and also a transverse chamber therein, a plunger inserted in said longitudinal chamber, and diameter of said pinion, and means, for rohaving a toothed geotiorlil TalIGIGOII, a pinion tating said member and said pinion.

enga ing with sai toot e seotion and actuatiiig said plunger, a rotatable member WILLIAM APPLEMAN' 5 rigidly secured to said pinion, said member Witnesses:

having a peripheral support within said W. P. CLARK,

transverse chamber which is fully twice the CLARA WARD. 

